Bold writing from the West Midlands' leading writers' collective
Gem of a Place
Ever looked into a jeweller’s window and gazed at the gems within? Ever wondered whose hands prised them from the earth, whose hands crafted them – whose hands they might one day adorn?
Gem of a Place took audiences beyond the shopfronts of the Jewellery Quarter, down its side streets, past its old factories, and into some of its most secret places. They were led from play to play by a community cast, each one of which illluminated a unique aspect of the area.
Here’s what they thought:
FOUR STARS – The Reviews Hub
“Absolutely fantastic! I didn’t want it to end.”
“My first experience of such a performance and I’ll make sure it’s not my last.”
“A gem of a show. Bravo!”
The show took a half-mile route around the Quarter, including a rare visit inside the Grade II* listed Alabaster & Wilson factory. It was directed by Jen Davis, whose credits include Associate Director on the RSC’s production of Faith. She was joined by The Rep’s Resident Assistant Director, Alice Chambers, who directed the community cast.
Despite their countless spectacular and intensely emotional storylines, dramatic long-forms (screen, audio, prose, full-length stage) sometimes have to confront the issue of ‘treading water’. This applies equally to plot and to characters. It’s a kind of temporary flat-lining – the dynamism dips, the energy drains – and you find your mind wandering (and wondering, but…
Across two meteorologically fickle September weeks, Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter witnessed what could almost be called a happening. Not a common occurrence, it had done well to court a range of reactions from onlookers: bafflement, delight, flitting interest, scorn, intrigue. And that’s to say nothing of what the paying audience thought. This was Gem of a…
At 11.30am on 9th September we sit near Chamberlain’s Clock in Golden Square and the magic begins. The clock exerts its power and time becomes fluid. As writers, we see our words spring to life when the actors arrive to take the audience with them on their journey round the Jewellery Quarter. There are stories…
Everyone studies History at school but what do we learn? There are so many different histories – kings and queens, wars, political, social, Commonwealth, world. How does it help us? The philosopher Santayana said ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ Judging by the number of times history repeats itself, we’re…
We’re delighted to announce our amazing cast for Gem of a Place which opens in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on September 9th. Graeme Rose returns having previously thrilled audiences in Behind Bars: Ghosts of the Lock-Up as the notorious Tommy Tank. Another BOLDtext veteran is Adaya Henry who appeared in Power of Invention at Soho House.…
We’re thrilled to reveal Jennifer Davis as our director for Gem of a Place, opening in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter on the 9th of September. Hailing from Coventry, Jen is a Junior Associate at the King’s Head Theatre and Women and Theatre’s Lead Artist Practitioner. She works with writers, theatre makers and performers to produce work…